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Merano hosted ECA European Open Canoe Slalom race

The fourth race in new ECA European Open Canoe Slalom race series was held in Merano. Competitors from nine European countries and Australia fought for the best positions on Saturday and Sunday. Maria Clara Giai Pron (WK1) and Flavio Micozzi (MC1) took the wins for Italy, Yves Prigent (FRA) was the best in men’s K1 and Alexandra Broome (AUS) won in women’s C1.

The 2019 ECA European Open Canoe Slalom race series already lead competitors to Markkleeberg, Tacen and Liptovsky Mikulaš earlier in the season. Now it was time for Italian town Merano, located in South Tyrol. Competitors from ten countries took part in the competition and athletes from Italy, Germany, France, Slovenia, Switzerland and Australia won medals in four events that were held.

Italian kayaker Maria Clara Giai Pron produced the best run in women’s K1 final. Marie Amelie Silvin from France finished the race in second position and Carolin Schaller from Germany was third.

The second win of the day for Italian team came in men’s canoe final. Flavio Micozzi crossed the finish line with the best time and 0.70 seconds ahead of second places Jure Lenarčič from Slovenia. Timo Trummer from Germany was third.

French kayaker Yves Prigent was the winner in men’s kayak event. He finished the final run 0.37 seconds faster than Samuel Hegge from Germany and 0.87 seconds faster than another French kayaker Thomas Durand.

In the final event of the competition – women’s C1 final – Australian representative Alexandra Broome won the race in front Swiss paddler Alena Marx and Italian canoeist Carolina Massarenti.

The last two races in the ECA European Open Canoe Slalom series will be organised in August in Prague and Bratislava.